Outreach

An image of UConn faculty, grad students, and undergrads from the August 2017 Solar Eclipse

Astronomy inspires awe and reminds us all of the tiny piece of the cosmos that we inhabit.  Awareness of our place in the universe, this pale blue dot, diminishes the magnitude of our conflicts and encourages us to be good to one another.  I feel fortunate to be an ambassador on this mission, and eager to share my love of astronomy with the public. I am passionate about science outreach. I have led and been involved in a number of outreach programs. I would like to hear your ideas of programs to implement at UConn!

Major Outreach Programs

UConn-STARsis a program for undergraduate students in physics, aimed to build community, a support system, and to provide outreach opportunities. UConn STARs offers one-on-one mentorship, professional development activities, social engagement, and a (paid!) opportunity to volunteer in the community, teaching elementary and high school students about physics. UConn STARs was founded in Spring 2022, learn more about the program (and how to join!) here!

 

 

 

 

 

An image of the participants in a BiteScis K-12 science workshop

BiteScis brings together science graduate students with K-12 teachers to develop lesson plans that bring modern science research into the K-12 classroom. These lesson plans are based on cutting-edge science research while filling real classroom needs by aligning with curriculum standards. Each lesson plan highlights real scientists in the field to help diversify students ideas of who can be a scientist. All BiteScis lesson plans are fully editable and freely available online. I co-founded BiteScis along with science education colleagues I connected with at ComSciCon. I co-led the program from 2014-2020.

An image of students looking through a solar telescope

CU-STARs is a University of Colorado program to support students from all backgrounds interested in space. By providing social engagement, mentorship, free tutoring, and an active support network, we helped to build a supportive community for students interested in space. The culmination of the program for the recruits are a series of high school outreach events in which they become the expert. As a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, I co-founded and led the CU-STARs program. The program is in its 25th year and is estimated to have impacted about 100 undergraduate and 1,000s of high school students (Leader: 2010-2013)

An image of Dr. Battersby fielding questions from young "proto-scientists" after a public talk.Additional Highlighted Outreach Activities:

  • 18 invited public talks
  • Faculty advisor for the UConn Astronomy Association (2018 – present)
  • Faculty advisor for the UConn Physics Club (Fall 2018 – Spring 2022)
  • Co-Founder of the UConn Graduate BRIDGE+ program (Spring 2021). Co-founded in 2021, led by the Vergano Institute for Inclusion in the School of Engineering and
    funded through the President’s Commitment to Community Initiative. A summer bridge program for incoming UConn STEM graduate students from traditionally
    underrepresented backgrounds.
  • Led Astronomy Activity at Hartford Schools Physics Open House. (April 2018)
  • Co-organized solar eclipse viewing party. (August 2017)